Karen Kern - Hunter College

Professor: Karen Kern

Department: History

College: Hunter College

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: HIST341
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

This professor may come off as dry/boring at first but she's very passionate about what she teaches & definitely puts work into grading student's work. Be prepared to read A LOT of complex and long articles. This class was hard but I really did learn a lot and she makes herself available for office hours if you ever need clarification on anything.

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: HIST341
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I had History of Arab Israeli relations with Prof Kern. It was a very challenging class with lots of reading, complex material and extremely hard writing assignments. She grades very harshly! In the end I appreciated this. Few teachers at Hunter put as much dedication into grading student work and few have challenged me in this way. You will learn!

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: HIST27651
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

If you are looking to learn about the Middle East do not under any circumstances take this class. She does not provide an opportunity for healthy discussion and attempts to silence any dissenting voices. However if you are the type of student who will just parrot what the professor wants then be my guest. Also she is loves revisionism in history.

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: HIST341
• Grade Received: B
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: No
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Combative, confrontational, condescending, unclear of her expectations of your performance, gives tests that do not align with material, discourages participation with accusatory tone, seemingly untrained to deal with special needs students in the class, good selection of material, grades papers with excessive notes and no chance to revise.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: HST27651
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

I truly felt like I learned so much through the material Professor Kern provided and the lectures. I admire Professor Kern's passion for MES His. as well as respect and trust her vision for historical academia. This is a class where a non-biased perspective of Middle Eastern Culture & Hist. is made a priority. You will learn to think for yourself

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very cold person. Consistently talks down to students who are trying to understand. Rude even to the older folks who take the course for personal enrichment. over the top attendance policy: takes roll at start, after break makes you print, autograph, and write last 4 digits of social security number on sheet to make sure you didn't leave. sheesh.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ISLAMICHISTORY1
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is a very strict grader. If you choose to do credit/no credit (which I did) she makes you sign a piece of paper saying something like you must try on the final and if you don't you will receive a grade. Proceeds to judge you based on grade and is not open to any reasoning. Do not under any circumstances take this class. I implore you to not.

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: HIST27651
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Did not adhere to warnings on Blackboard but I should have! The positives: The class can be interesting and you will learn a lot. Gives essay questions beforehand Negatives: Even with essays beforehand, tests are a real issue. =/ This class will kill your GPA as she is harsh grader.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: HIS276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Fair. Gives essay questions beforehand. Not too much reading. It's important to attend class (each session is three hours) and take DETAILED NOTES. Her lecturing is a little dry, though; she could stand to spice things up a bit because it can get boring in a three-hour class. But I learned a lot!

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

She is definitely tough but fair. Her notes and the primary source books are all you need; EMPHASIS on HER notes. Her notes contain everything so take good notes or pair up with other students to make sure you got every thing.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: HIST760
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I would say Kern is tough but fair. I had her for History of the Middle East and I learned a lot. She gives out the essay question for her tests in advance, and those are worth about 40% of her tests, so i thought that was nice. If you take her graduate level course, you are basically in her regular 300-level class, but have to do a 15 page paper.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: HIST768
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Very straightforward, a helpful professor and if you do what you are supposed to do you will have no problems.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I took her for modern Middle East, and my first impression of her was cold and rigid. But she is actually very nice and helpful if you are a serious student. Taking GOOD notes are imperative to do well in her class, especially near the end of the course when it's easy to lose interest or be overwhelmed by all the craziness going on the ME region.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: HIST373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If you are taking a 300+ level History course IT WILL BE HARD REGARDLESS. Therefore, you can't blame the professor. You have to read, be AWAKE in class, and do the work. It won't be an easy A, but it will be a great feeling once you get it. Hard work pays off, and Kern's SUPER helpful if she knows you're serious.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: HISTME
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If your in search of a course that is challenging, insightful and accurate then this is for you. Her presentation of the ME will leave you a million times more enlightened about the region. I think she is an ideal professor and do not understand why a college student is in need of a professor who will hold their hands through everything,get real!

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Prof. Kern definitely knows her stuff when it comes to this class. But like many people have said, she's ICE cold. Good luck with keeping with the readings...no extra credit under any circumstances and she goes 100 MPH during lectures. Expect 2-3 pages (spiral notebook) of notes per class.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Tough class but worth taking. Really interesting topics discussed extensively but you still have to read. Studying for that class wasn't so bad though because the test arent cumulative but take notes on her lectures and you should do fine.

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Dr. Kern is a highly intelligent professor hailing from the ivy league. By taking her course one will be able to obtain a great deal of knowledge about the development and spread of Islam as well as the rise and fall of Islamic empires. Expect to take a great deal of notes during the class. She has a very cold and nasty demeanor, otherwise good.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: HIST373
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This is not the class to take if you want to get an easy A. Expect to do a lot of reading and writing. Make sure you keep up with the readings- there are many! Take advantage of her office hours. Work with peers on assignments. You'll learn a great deal; I liked this class a lot despite the work and her icy attitude.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: HIST276
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

If u want 2 learn about the ME, take this class. It's challenging and u have to put in the work. But she is clear about how you can succeed. If u listen, u can get a good grade. she is very helpful if u ask.